Excerpt: Paragon paths (merged)

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

At first I thought (reading the Cleric and Fighter entries): "Huh? That's not a lot of stuff for a Path." Then I got to the Stormwarden entry...
Suffice to say that I was stupid and unable to notice that they didn't post the powers for most paths.

So, now, after seeing the Stormwarden entry - Paragon Paths look good. My only remaining disappointment is that they seem to be more class-focused then advertised earlier (R&C). But maybe multiclassing can compensate that, and looking at the Stormwarden, there isn't necessarily something wrong with class-focussed Paths. I really hope there are more then 2 Paths for each class.

 

[ShockMeSane]

Yep, one of my co-players has already noticed that combo. Nasty isn't it

I wouldn't be at all surprised to see that "Seize the moment" ability to have some restrictions. Remember, we're basically just seeing the information that is contained in the feat summary chart, not the actual listing for the feat itself. Free sneak attacks for the entire battle with a good initiative roll seems pretty unlikely to me. But who knows, the first time I saw a chained, empowered, maximized, split-rayed, twin-spelled enervate deal 24 negative levels to 8 enemies, I was a little incredulous as well. Sadly, its possible depending on your interpretation of how certain feats stack =/

 

[That One Guy]

In addition to the eight in the preview there are at least five others in blogs (Iron Vanguard, Battle Captain, Battle Archer, Spellstorm Mage, and Astral Weapon) that are from the PHB (and one, wildfire genasi, which is probably in the FR PHB). So we've already seen 13 from PHB, and I seriously doubt they've shown us all of the paths.

+1 radiant servant (I edited a post of mine up above to include this cleric path briefly mentioned in the excerpt).
14.

 

[ShockMeSane]

At first I thought (reading the Cleric and Fighter entries): "Huh? That's not a lot of stuff for a Path." Then I got to the Stormwarden entry...
Suffice to say that I was stupid and unable to notice that they didn't post the powers for most paths.

So, now, after seeing the Stormwarden entry - Paragon Paths look good. My only remaining disappointment is that they seem to be more class-focused then advertised earlier (R&C). But maybe multiclassing can compensate that, and looking at the Stormwarden, there isn't necessarily something wrong with class-focussed Paths. I really hope there are more then 2 Paths for each class.

Yea, that Druid entry someone posted seemed to indicate about 4 paragon paths per class, though that may simply be because it is being published in PHB2 and takes into account that the book will include additional Paragon Paths for existing classes (very likely). 3 Paragon paths/class seems likely.

 

[MaelStorm]

I could see 18 paths linked to each class:

Cleric, 2 paths
Fighter, 2 paths
Paladin, 2 paths
Ranger, 2 paths
Rogue, 2 paths
Warlock, 4 paths (1 for each pact)
Warlord, 2 paths
Wizard, 2 paths

Plus 6 paths available to multiple class.

 

[FadedC]

I wouldn't be at all surprised to see that "Seize the moment" ability to have some restrictions. Remember, we're basically just seeing the information that is contained in the feat summary chart, not the actual listing for the feat itself. Free sneak attacks for the entire battle with a good initiative roll seems pretty unlikely to me. But who knows, the first time I saw a chained, empowered, maximized, split-rayed, twin-spelled enervate deal 24 negative levels to 8 enemies, I was a little incredulous as well. Sadly, its possible depending on your interpretation of how certain feats stack =/

Seize the moment may also only work on the first round of combat, like the rogue class feature (making it useless for rogues but useful for other classes). I guess we will have to read the longer description of it when it comes out.

 

[Kobold Avenger]

Nothing says a Stormwarden can't use Blade-Storm and Twin Blade-Storm in the same round, or can't target the same opponent 3 times.

 

[Destil]

Magical martial!

Interesting... We now see what R&D was talking about when it comes to the martial power source being only the 'least magical' instead of entirely nonmagical.

Kensei fighters gaining a mystical bond with their chosen weapon.

Stormwarden rangers slipping into wild plane of existence and empowering their attacks with lightning.

Not high magic, but both fit their classes well. The rogue and warlord paths, on the other hand, look to be firmly rooted in the mundane. Hopefully such options will be open for all 4 martial classes.

 

[Spatula]

Well, it lets the mage threaten without wielding a weapon. That's pretty impressive in my opinion.

If threatening opponents in melee was a prime task of a wizard, I would agree. Generally melee is someplace that a wizard does not want to be, though. But perhaps the battlemage's powers focus on protecting the wizard from physical harm.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Interesting... We now see what R&D was talking about when it comes to the martial power source being only the 'least magical' instead of entirely nonmagical.

Kensei fighters gaining a mystical bond with their chosen weapon.

Stormwarden rangers slipping into wild plane of existence and empowering their attacks with lightning.

Not high magic, but both fit their classes well. The rogue and warlord paths, on the other hand, look to be firmly rooted in the mundane. Hopefully such options will be open for all 4 martial classes.

You're right, I totally missed that implication!